Start before you're ready.
When starting feels impossible —
one tiny task and 10 minutes is enough.
Optional: name what you're working on
10 minutes is short enough to feel doable — and long enough to make real progress. Name your task, press start, and let the countdown do the rest.
Try it with one tiny start
Don't pick the whole task. Pick the first visible move.
Why 10 minutes works when nothing else does
Small enough to start now
"Just 10 minutes" makes the commitment feel smaller, which can make starting less overwhelming.
Builds momentum fast
Starting is often the hardest part. After 10 minutes, you can stop without guilt or keep going if momentum shows up.
Fights time blindness
The countdown makes time easier to see, so a vague task becomes a clear, bounded session.
The 10-minute rule: why a small commitment changes everything
Starting a task is often harder than doing it. The size of the commitment matters. A 25-minute session can feel too big when you are already stuck. A 10-minute session asks for less: open the task, name what you are doing, and begin.
Once you've started, something interesting happens: resistance drops. The same task that felt impossible to begin often feels natural to continue once you're in it. This is why the 10-minute timer functions as a launchpad, not a limit — you're using a small commitment to get past the hardest part: the first 60 seconds.
The timer also makes time visible. Without a countdown, time can feel vague and slippery. A clear 10-minute window gives the task a beginning and an end.
Can't decide what to work on?
Try a Brain Dump first. Get everything out of your head, pick one thing, and then come back to start your 10 minutes. That is often enough to make the next move clearer.
Pair it with these tools
Send it to someone who is stuck
Sometimes the kindest plan is a smaller plan.
“Can’t start? Don’t finish the task. Just do 10 minutes.”
“A tiny timer for the first step, not the whole project.”
“When the task feels too big, make the commitment smaller.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Why try a 10-minute timer?
Ten minutes is small enough to feel less intimidating, but long enough to make a real start. The goal is not to finish the whole task. It is to lower the pressure enough that beginning feels possible.
What can I do in 10 minutes?
You can open a document, write a rough email, clear one small area, reply to a message, outline a task, or make the first tiny move on something you have been avoiding. If you continue after the timer, great. If you stop, you still started.
Is 10 minutes enough to matter?
Yes. Ten minutes is not meant to replace deep work. It is a starting tool for moments when a bigger commitment feels too heavy. Small starts can reduce avoidance and make the next step easier to see.
What if 10 minutes isn't enough to finish?
That's fine — and often the point. Ten minutes is a launchpad, not a limit. Once you've started, you can extend naturally or run another session. The timer gives you permission to stop at 10 minutes without guilt, which paradoxically makes it easier to continue. Knowing you can stop reduces the resistance to starting. If you need more time, you can select 15 or 25 minutes from the timer options.
Do I need ADHD to use this timer?
No. The timer is designed with ADHD-friendly principles in mind, but anyone can use it when a task feels too big, vague, or hard to start.
Is this timer free and private?
Yes. The timer is free to use and does not require an account. The task name is used only in your browser session so you can remember what you are working on.